Jessica Ennis-Hill coach: Sheffield Olympic star's coach banned for life over sexually inappropriate conduct

The coach who helped Sheffield’s own Jessica Ennis-Hill to her Olympic success has been banned for life for sexual inappropriate conduct.
Alastair Ulke
By Alastair Ulke
Published 9th Aug 2022, 14:16 BST
Updated 9th Aug 2022, 14:55 BST
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Toni Minichiello has been banned from athletics for life after an investigation found he engaged in "sexually physical behaviour" with athletes.

Mr Minichiello, who coached Sheffield’s Jessica Ennis-Hill to Olympic heptathlon glory, was also deemed to have made inappropriate sexual references and gestures to athletes and engaged in "inappropriate and sometimes aggressive behaviour, bullying and emotional abuse".

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FILE - Toni Minichiello looks on during the women's heptathlon at the Hypo Meeting in Goetzis, Austria, May 26, 2012. The coach who helped British track and field star Jessica Ennis-Hill to Olympic and world titles was effectively banned for life Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022 for misconduct including sexually physical behavior with athletes over a 15-year period. Minichiello was found guilty by a tribunal of four charges that amounted to “gross breaches of trust,” the U.K. Athletics governing body said. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson, File)FILE - Toni Minichiello looks on during the women's heptathlon at the Hypo Meeting in Goetzis, Austria, May 26, 2012. The coach who helped British track and field star Jessica Ennis-Hill to Olympic and world titles was effectively banned for life Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022 for misconduct including sexually physical behavior with athletes over a 15-year period. Minichiello was found guilty by a tribunal of four charges that amounted to “gross breaches of trust,” the U.K. Athletics governing body said. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson, File)
FILE - Toni Minichiello looks on during the women's heptathlon at the Hypo Meeting in Goetzis, Austria, May 26, 2012. The coach who helped British track and field star Jessica Ennis-Hill to Olympic and world titles was effectively banned for life Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022 for misconduct including sexually physical behavior with athletes over a 15-year period. Minichiello was found guilty by a tribunal of four charges that amounted to “gross breaches of trust,” the U.K. Athletics governing body said. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson, File)
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UK Athletics said the findings, which amount to a large number of breaches of its coach licence terms over a 15-year period, "constitute gross breaches of trust".

As Mr Minichiello's coaching licence expired during the disciplinary process, he cannot be suspended or subject to a sanction.

However, the governing body has decided it will not entertain any future application made by Minichiello for a coach licence.

"UKA has considered the matter and decided that these findings are of the utmost seriousness," a UK Athletics statement read.

Great Britain's Jessica Ennis-Hill with her now-disgraced coach Toni Minichiello during day one of the Hypo-Meeting at the Mosle Stadion, Gotzis, Austria. Photo by Adam Davy/PA WireGreat Britain's Jessica Ennis-Hill with her now-disgraced coach Toni Minichiello during day one of the Hypo-Meeting at the Mosle Stadion, Gotzis, Austria. Photo by Adam Davy/PA Wire
Great Britain's Jessica Ennis-Hill with her now-disgraced coach Toni Minichiello during day one of the Hypo-Meeting at the Mosle Stadion, Gotzis, Austria. Photo by Adam Davy/PA Wire
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"They constitute gross breaches of trust by Mr Minichiello which have had severe consequences for the mental health and mental wellbeing of the athletes under his charge.

"The issuance of a UKA licence to a coach is essentially a representation on behalf of UKA that the coach in question can be trusted with the athletes under his charge.

"UKA is firmly of the view that there will never be a time in the future at which it would be appropriate to grant that assurance and issue such a licence.

"UKA has decided that it will not entertain any future application made by Mr Minichiello for a UKA coach licence in perpetuity."

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Mr Minichiello was named BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year after guiding Ennis to Olympic glory at London 2012.

The 56-year-old, who had been subject of multiple complaints from women in athletics, was found guilty of 11 serious charges by an independent case-management group.

These included mimicking sexual activity and touching an athlete's breasts.

He also told an athlete she could "suck my ****" if she did not continue to train and "frequently" referred to his penis as "spicy Italian sausage".

Various other charges were not proven.

Should Mr Minichiello wish to apply for a coach licence in the future, the matter would be subject to an appeal.

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